Of the legionnaires who reached the Israeli team in the first window of the World Cup qualifiers, Tomer Ginat is in the best shape.
He is a key player in the Metropolitan, 92 leaders of the French league and a top team in the EuroCup.
On Thursday in the game against Poland, he had a hard time like all his friends, but tonight Ginat is ready and ready to bring his good performance to face Estonia as well, in order to raise Israel to a promising 0: 2 balance at the start of the campaign.
"It's great fun to be here. A bunch of players were built here who really enjoy being together with each other and we are very much looking forward to the game," Ginat tells Israel Today in a special interview at the hotel in Tallinn.
"The last time we lost here in pain and now we want to come and look different. We made adjustments from the game against the Poles and I believe we will come prepared."
Tomer Ginat.
Our Legionnaire in France Reveals the Difficulties, Photo: Metropolitans 92, Official Website
35 years we have not been in the World Cup, the players talk about wanting to do something special?
"Of course it's a big task. The World Cup is the biggest thing there is. We have a long way to go to start in victory. We are all aiming for that, but in the meantime we have to go step by step, and the game against Estonia is the next task."
"Being a stranger is completely different"
Last week, Ginat shared on social media the mental difficulties he went through during the past year in France, revealed that he suffers from anxiety attacks and Si Per that he consulted with the TV anchor Asi Ezer who helped him a lot.
Gal Makal and Tomer Ginat.
"A special group was built here," Photo: Oded Karni
Why now reveal what you went through?
"I got myself into a situation where I was whole and due to talk about my feelings. I wrote the post a few days before, and just before the flight from France to Israel I published it. I felt it was the time and place for me to do it. And if it comes to someone dealing with such things Help him with something. "
Where did you get the courage to reveal and open up your private affairs to everyone?
"I don't look at it as courage, but something I went through. There are a lot of basketball players who play far from home and go through similar things. I just said things the way I experienced them. I realized one of the things that helps me cope is unload and share so I did it."
The Israeli team in the concluding training, this morning.
Enjoying together, Photo: The Israeli Basketball Association
Why did you turn to Assi Ezer first and not to a professional?
"I experienced what I experienced an hour before the flight from Israel to France and I did not have a professional to talk to, because until then I was not in touch with anyone. I can not call someone I do not know and bring down what I feel. Nor was I at a stage where I could talk With someone from the family or I know closely.
"I met Asi a few weeks ago with the help of a mutual friend, and without thinking too much I sent him a message - and he immediately helped me. We had a brief acquaintance and he did things that were not obvious. Then of course I contacted a professional."
Assi Azar.
"I met Asi a few weeks ago with the help of a mutual friend," Photo: Daniel Kaminsky
If an Israeli player who wants to go to Europe calls you, what is the most important piece of advice you will give him?
"The most important advice is to fly on the first day with someone else - dad, girlfriend, mom. Because there is an initial shock that needs to go through and it helps to have someone else with you. The second advice is to talk to an Israeli who plays abroad.
When I went out to narrow my mouth I called Gal Makal and he said to me 'be you, do not think you have to make numbers, they brought you because of who you are'.
It helped me a lot.
"Being a foreign player is something completely different. The local players speak a different language than you know and treat you differently than you are used to as an Israeli in a team in Israel. Even professionally you are expected to have a certain output and there are high expectations. .
Finally, what is Tomer Ginat's next goal?
"It's a good question I've been asking myself lately. The big goal is to make sure I'm happy. Along the way I want to fulfill some professional dreams. I really want to play in the Euroleague and I want to fulfill that dream."
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